For many years Division 42 was a division that required Psychologist licensure for membership. Just a couple of years ago our board voted to open a new category for students and new professionals. For students and recent graduates, membership in Division 42 is important because of two reasons: the threats to practice independently and the socialization of new leadership within our strong division.

Psychologists in Independent Practice is a division devoted to the business of practice. This business has always really meant the survival of practice. Although other APA divisions quite admirably devote their focus to the clinical aspects of psychology and psychotherapy, the founders of this division saw the need to assure that we psychologists could continue to practice independently in the manner that we were trained.

Historically psychologists’ independence has been threatened. Threats from the medical community, with licensing laws, hospital practices rulings and most recently with prescription privileges. We have won many battles over the years, but we must remain alert to present and future threats.

The most recent threat to our autonomy has been the advent of managed care. When managed care reared its ugly head the leadership of this division came once again to full alert. We were at full alert when others were saying “this was the way of the world,” this was the way we had to learn to change....otherwise we would just die like the dinosaurs did. We refused to accept this dogma.

Well, we didn’t learn to change, we didn’t accept the ways of the world... In fact we worked at changing things. We became stronger and a whole spectrum of independent practice strategies was developed.

Our quest was not only to survive but to thrive. A retreat at a Mid-Winter Board meeting several years ago initiated the concept of marketing psychology to the public. This evolved into the Practice Directorate’s Public Education Campaign.

We didn’t stop there. Our division initiated innovative models for psychologists to use to promote independent practice. We began by offering Continuing Education workshops. The panelists were psychologists who were successful in their independent practice. We taught our members techniques and information on how to remain independent successfully.

We developed marketing tools (brochures, promotional products, tapes). We offered brochures to our members on a variety of topics that focused on issues commonly dealt with in private practice. We developed the “Straight Talk” brochure showing a photo of a curved road with the saying “When the Road of Life Takes a Tough Turn, a Psychologist Can Help”. This photo and theme was used in an ad in 12 issues of Harpers Magazine. It is on Mugs, Mouse Pads and Tote Bags that can be used as gifts or just used for others to see.

Our members have self-development tools (PICK42 Niche Guides). Pick stands for Practice Information Clearinghouse of Knowledge. These short guides focus on specialty practice areas. Each one gives the reader an update of the literature and recent findings in the specific field. With all of us suffering from information overload these guides are a quick summary and time saver.

In addition to our products our Interdivisional Task Force on Managed Care and Health Care Reform has worked tirelessly to create a stronger climate for psychologists in independent practice. They have created policy suggestions to CAPP, the Practice Directorate and to APA Council.

While the Division 42 leadership has been so focused on aiding the practices of psychologists, we noticed that there was an unexpectedly large number of psychology students in graduate programs across the country. These students are being educated and trained in the various techniques of psychotherapy, evaluations/diagnostics and ethics. They were learning how to work in clinics, hospitals and schools. They have heard about the problems of independent practitioners, yet this did not deter them from pursuing their chosen major area of study. Why?

Didn’t these students hear about the horrors of managed care? Didn’t they hear that it was hard to make a professional level income anymore? Were they self-defeating and acting on inner feelings of worthlessness? No! I think these new students and new professionals are just the kind of individuals that do have high self-esteem, do feel self-confident, and do believe in themselves. They are doers, and know that they will learn all the things they need to learn to have successful independent practices. They are the “perfect” members for Division 42! Division 42 is the “perfect” division to teach them what they need to know! Further, and most importantly, I believe that the new wave of students and new professionals will be “perfect” new leaders for our division.

Marcus Patterson will be serving as our first student liaison from APAGS. Pat Pitta, our Student/New Professional Membership chair has helped in facilitating a mentoring listserv with APAGS called mentors@lists.apa.org. To subscribe email to listserv@lists.apa.org and write "subscribe mentors@lists.apa.org".

I encourage all the new student and new professional members to actively participate in committees that are of personal interest to you. Call or email our office to indicate your interest and your message can be directed to the appropriate person.

So, Welcome students and new professionals. You will find that Division 42 will be a very comfortable home for you within APA. We will be there to help you, mentor you, develop your skills of creating and maintaining a successful independent practice, and we welcome you to our committees, our board and our leadership.

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